Drying apparatus



Nov. 24,A 1931. TQQ PROUTY 1,833,497

DRYING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q a a O 5 4 O o oo o o A O Je 36 .8. 36 F31 lo l 6 /a -eo 8 /9 l I /5/ '4v 7 al l; 6 18 A9 i i l ||y 59 35 R65 Pa 39 INVENTOR.

\ BYM-' dan? Nov. 24, 1931. T. c. P'RouTY 1,833,497

' DRYING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1927 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN1/ EN TOR.maar@ apmuclg BY- I A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 24, 1931. T. c. PROUTY 1,833,497

DRYING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l INVENT'oR.

ATTORNEY.A

` of iinely Patented Nov.. 24, 1931 UNITEDy STATES PATENT OFFICETH`EODOBE C.'PROUTY, OF'HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA; WILLIS O. PROUT'Y.A'D- IMIN'ISTRATOR OF SAID TBEODORE G. PROUT'Y', DECEASED nameAPPARATUS Applieationlle .Tune 27,

The purpose Vof my invention is to provide means for rapidly dryingsolids suspendedv in or otherwise -mixed with liquids, and isparticularly applicable to mixtures round mineral with water such as areuse in certain stages of the manufacture of ceramics. Infiltrationprocesses it is common practice Jto de-water mixtures, such as orepulps, by brin ',ng the mixture into contact with the sur ace of aporous mediumfsuch as a woven'fabric, on the opposite side ofA which apartial vacuum is maintained, lthe effect being to draw the water orother liquid to the low pressure side of the fabric and cause the solldsto adhere of finely divided solids in water or other l in a compactlayer or coating to the opposite side. While such a recess efectuallyremoves the excess water, 1t leaves the finely divided solids in`admixture withla relative- 20 ly high percentage of liquid. Myinvention relates more particularly to the removal ofy that part of thewater which cannot be separated from the` solids by the means described.I have found that if a suspension 0 medium, part of the liquid passingthru the porous medium and part rebounding with its c solid contentgreatly reduced. By forcibly projecting the mixture of solids and liquid5 against one side of a 'porous fabric or other `medium and maintainingreduced pressure on thel Aopposite side there is caused a very' raipiddeposition of the solids onthe porous medium in the form of an adherentlayer containinga very low percentage of liquid,

y `so low a percentage that by a relatively rapid any extentnecessary. f

passageof the porous medium throu'ghwa heated chamber, the moistureremaining with the solids can beJ diminished to practically 1927. SerialNo. 801,808.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation view, partly diagrammatic, of apparatusconstructed and to be operated in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view with certain parts broken away to exhibitthe part of the apparatus in which the separation by the joint action ofimpact and reduced pressure takes place.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modification of part of the structureshown in Fig- ,urev` 2. v

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of conducting theseparator belt through the heating chamber.

Figure 5 shows a modification of the construction shown in Fi re l, theporous separator medium comprising two belts instead of a single belt.

Fi ure`6 is a vfragmentary view showing a di erent form of vacuumelement and a 'fiat separator belt. c

Y The endless separator belt l preferably consists of woven fabricpassing over guide rollers 2, 3, 4 and 5, 'one or more of which may bepower-driven to move the belt longitudinally in the direction indicatedby the arrows A, A. The means for subjecting one side of the belt tolreduced pressure is indicated generally by the numeral 6 andcomprises anannulus 7 in the form of a perforated cylindrical Wally which, in theconstruction shown, forms the inner Wall of a chamber provided with Vaconnection 8 to an exhaust pump and with a drain opening 9.

The belt after passing over the roller 5 passes through guides whichgraduallybend its edges toward' its longitudinal center causing the beltto assume a cylindrical form upon an axisparallel to its length. y

In Figure l I have shown a guide for the purpose, supported upon'thestructure of the vacuum chamber 6. The arms 51 VVof the guide have arelatively slight curvature and the arms 52 have a greatercurvaturethereby gradually bringing the belt to a cylindrical form. Thearms 53 and 54 are of a Aform similar respectively to arms 52 and 5 51and serve to restrain the belt against iiattening too abruptly afterleaving the annulus. f i

In the cylindrical form so imparted to the belt it passes through theperforated annulus 7 and then again flattens out and passes over theroller 2. The external diameter of the cylindrical pLart of the beltbeing substantially equal tothe internal diameter of the annulus 7, thedierence in pressure on the opposite .15 sides of the belt as it passesthrough the annulus will hold its outer surface smoothly against theinterior 'of the annulus.

Extending axially of the annulus and of the cylindrical section of thebelt is a tubular shaft 10 supported in bearingsy 11, 12 on a bracket,13. The bracket 13 preferably also supports the reduced pressure chamber6 and a motor 14 which is belted to the shaft' 10 as shown. At a pointinside the annulus 7 the shaft 10. carries -a centrifugal nozzledesignated generally by thenumeral 15.` l The nozzle 15 as illustratedcomprisestwo dis'cbshaped metal` casing lmembers 16,v 17 provided withcircumferentialv flanges 18, 19 0 which are directed toward each otherbut with an intervening space 20. Thel disc '16 has anfupwardlyprojecting boss 21 which sul'.- rounds and is seated against a shoulder22 on the shaftflO. In order to protect the metal lca singmen'nb'e'rs16, 17 from the abrasiveaction of the material treated in theapparatuseach'of said members is provided with a ceramic lining preferablyvitrified throughoutv or on the exposed surfaces thereof. These`linings, show-n at 23, 24 conform to the inner shape of' the casingmembers 16 and 17 and have' circumferential anges 25,26 which ex tendtoward and meet each .other andare of such depth that when broughttogether the 5 flan es '18, 19 of the metal casing members are eld apartand separated by the intervening space 20. A bolt 27 threaded into .theshaft 10 serves 'to hold the casing and linm members of the centrifugalnozz e to the en of the tubular'shaft in the assembled position shown.The bolt is provided'with an i axial duct 'communicating with theinterior of the tubular shaft 10 -and .with a cross duct connecting duct40 with the chamber in the centrifugal nozzle 15.

At the meeting edges of the lining members 23, 24 acircumferentialseries of o enings 28' is formed as shown in Figure 2.hese openw cated-at 28, Figu of elongated sllts a's shown at 29 inFigure 3.

In Figures 5 I have shown vtvcfo separator beltsvl, 1", each extendinaround one half of the circumference of ve erforated anu nulus 7 insteadof a single belt extending ings may be circular in crosssection asindi`v re 2, or may be 1n the form4 around the entire circumference asin Figures 1 and 2.

The separator belt with the layer of solids thereon passes through theheatmg chamber 30 to which heat may be supplied by any suitable means.The belt may be directed through several convolutions inside vof theheating chamber to prolongthe time of application of heat thereto..

In Figure 4 I have shown diagrammatically a series of rollers adapted toguide the belt through several convolutions with the rollers contactingonly with theside of the belt opposite that on which the solids aredeposited. The rollers 31 have their axes in alinement 80 and the axesof the rollers 33 are in alinement and parallel to the axes of therollers 31. The rollers 32 and 34 are so disposed in relation to therollers 3l and 33 as to impart substantially rectangular turns to theseparator belt as it passes through th hea-ter. The axes of the rollers32, 32, 32 and 34, 34 are parallel to each other but at a` sufficientangle to the axes of the rollers 31, 33 to guide the belt in ahelical'path, the angularity referred to being indicated by the dottedlines shown in connection With the rollers 32, 34 in Figure 4. A'ny ofthe solids that become separated from the belt in the heater 30 may bethere collected. s

For the complete `separation of the dried solids from` the belt Iprovide a series of rollers 35, in passing over which the belt isalternate-ly bent in o posite directions and at the samey time preerably subjected to the action of brushes or Scrapers 36. D

The form of the appara-tus above described in which the vacuumseparating element is in annular form with the separating belt passingtherethrough in cylindrical form renders the use of a centrifugalprojecting nozzle practical, the nozzle being Within the cylindricalsection of the belt all of the material projected therefrom is depositedon the belt.

`InFigure 2 Ihave shown a circular plate 38 having a flange 39 thatcontacts circum ferentially with the inner surface of the belt 1 justbefore it enters the annulus 7. Material rebounding from or running downthe belt 1 will be deposited on the plate 38 and returned to the innerface of the belt. Any ma- /terial escaping past the plate 38 may becollected and returned to the original feed of the .apparatus or may beotherwise treated.v A

The broad principle of my invention, however, may be applic withapparatus of other forms, such as a pressure nozzle, and with theperforated vacuum separating element in the form of a flat late asshown1n Figure 6.

The extent of t e area of the belt that is subjected to the action ofthe vacuum element and of the area over'which the material is ldeposited on the belt maybe varied to suit the requirements of thematerial being treated andthe'extent to which it is to be dried.

iov

las

The centrifu al form of apparatus herein' described is We 1 adapted to te treatment of abrasive solids as the pressure necessary for Y forciblyprojecting the material against rthe belt is obtained withdut the use ofpumps or other apparatus that would be subject to rapid deterioration bythe abrasive action of the substance beingtreated. The centrifugalnozzle has an additional advantage in that its use renders it possibleto deliver 'the material at a much higher pressure than could beattained by other means operating upon a mixture of the kind for whichmy invention is designed. Without pressure' upon the material, as in theoperation of the commonly used vacuum filters, the difference inpressure upon opposite sides of the porous filter medium cannot exceedthe pressure of the atmosphere, and with pumps it is impractical tobuild up a pressure in excess of about two but by centrifugal means,such as describe herein, the material can be subjected to and deliveredat a much higher pressure.

I claim: `f v 1, In combination, a po us belt, a perforated annulus,means for aintaining sub- Natmospheric pressure upon the outer sideiofsaid annulus, means longitudinally through said annulus with one side incontact with the inner surface thereof, and means for projectin materialby cen'- trifugal force against said belt. 2. In combination,

forated annulus, means for maintaining sub--` atmospheric pressure uponthe outer side of said annulus, means for movin longitudinally throughsaid annu us withv one side in contact with the inner surface thereof, fa rotatable shaft substantially concentric with said 'annulus, acentrifugal nozzle fixed to f said shaft, said nozzle comprising a metalcasmg formed in two parts separatedon av f lane transverse of its axisand a vitreous i 4,5 ining member Vin each of said parts, outletapertures being provided at the meeting edges -`of the'two parts ofsaid/nozzle. h

3. In combination, a porous belt, means for opposite side thereof andopposite the zone of impact of the projected material, and

c means for'applying heat tosaid belt andto` A the material adheringthereto. 4. In combination, a porous moving said beltlongitudinallymeans for maintaining sab-atmospheric pressure upon onesidepf'said belt and means'r forcibly projecting inaterial to be driedagainst the opposite side thereof, and means forapply` ing heat to saidbelt and to the material ad C5 "haring thereto, said last named meanscomhundred pounds to the square incl for moving said belt moving saidbelt longitudinally, means for,v

prising a chamber and meansin said chamber to guide said belt ina'helical course. l

5. In combination, a rous belt, means forr moving said beltlongitudinally, means for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure uppn 7one side of said belt and means for forel ly` l projecting material tobe dried ,against the' opposite side thereof, and means for applyingheat to said belt and to the material a ering thereto said last namedmeans comprising achamber and a series of pulleys therein havin theiraxes angularly disposed to guide said belt in a helical course.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name;

, THEODORE c. PRoU'rY.

al orous belt a err P. P g 100.

said belt v iis means for

